KABUL , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.S. military bombed about 300 tons of poppy seeds in a dusty field in southern Afghanistan Tuesday in a dramatic show of force designed to break up the Taliban 's connection to heroin .

The U.S. military bombed about 300 tons of poppy seeds in a dusty field in southern Afghanistan Tuesday .

The air strike occurred mid-day in Helmand province and was observed by CNN 's Ivan Watson , who is embedded with the U.S. Marines operating in that province .

The military dropped a series of 1,000-pound bombs from planes on the mounds of poppy seeds and then followed with strikes from helicopters .

Tony Wayne , with the U.S. State Department , said the strikes on poppy seeds , that can be used to make opium and heroin , is part of a strategy shift for the military to stop the Taliban and other insurgents from profiting from drugs . Watch U.S. military bomb poppy seeds ''

`` There is a nexus that needs to be broken between the insurgents and the drug traffickers , '' Wayne said . `` Also , it is part of winning the hearts and minds of the population because in some cases they are intimidated into growing poppies . ''

In a bid to encourage Afghan farmers to swap out their poppy plants for wheat crops the U.S. Agency for International Development has been offering them seeds , fertilizers and improved irrigation .

Observers have noticed a significant decline in the opium trade in Afghanistan , with the number of poppy-free provinces increasing from 13 in 2007 to 18 in 2008 , according to a U.N. report released last year .

Opium cultivation in the country , which has 34 provinces , dropped by about 20 percent in a year , the U.N. reported in August .

`` It 's a challenge to deliver assistance in a war zone -- you can hear fighter jets flying above us right now , '' said Rory Donohoe , a USAID development officer .

`` At the end of the day , what we found is successful is that we work in areas that we can work , '' he told CNN in a recent interview in Helmand province .

`` We come to places like this demonstration farm where Afghans can come here to a safe environment , get training , pick up seeds and fertilizer , then go back to districts of their own . '' Watch Afghans speak about the change in their farming practices ''

Many of Afghanistan 's northern and eastern provinces have already benefited from USAID alternative farming programs , which have doled out more than $ 22 million to nearly 210,000 Afghans to build or repair 435 miles -LRB- 700 kilometers -RRB- of roads and some 2,050 miles -LRB- 3,300 kilometers -RRB- of irrigation and drainage canals .

Giving Afghan farmers improved access to markets and improved irrigation is successfully weaning them away from poppy production , according to officials at USAID .

Over the years , opium and heroin -- both derivatives of the poppy -- have served as a major source of revenue for the insurgency , most notably the Taliban movement that once ruled Afghanistan .

`` If you can just help the people of Afghanistan in this way , the fighting will go away , '' said Abdul Qadir , a farmer in Lashkar Gah .

`` The Taliban and other enemies of the country will also disappear . ''

Atia Abawi contributed to this report

@highlight

U.S. bombs poppy seeds in bid to break up Taliban 's connection to heroin

@highlight

Poppy seeds used to produce opium and heroin

@highlight

Opium , heroin has been a major source of revenue for the Taliban

@highlight

USAID offering seeds , other help to encourage Afghan farmers to grow wheat